"'Splendid,' said Sir Gilbert. ' Especially the Elgar.' He leaned in and lowered his voice. 'But, Lord, I do miss some Beethoven.'

Watson could only nod his agreement. Rationing extended as far as music - there would be no works by German or Austrian composers performed for the duration, by popular demand. And by popular threat. An attempt to play a Bach recital in an East End church the day after a Gotha bombing raid had killed eighteen schoolchildren at Upper North Street School had caused a riot. It had resulted in a badly damaged organ and a very traumatized organist."

The Sign of Fear, by Robert Ryan (copyright 2016; quote is from page 24 of the Simon & Schuster UK Ltd. trade paperback edition, 2016).